International Day of the Girl Child

International Day of the Girl Child
Also calledInternational Day of the Girl, Day of Girls, Girl's Day
TypeInternational
SignificanceRaising awareness of issues facing girls internationally, such as education, nutrition, forced child marriage, legal rights, and medical rights
Date11 October
Next time11 October 2025 (2025-10-11)
Frequencyannual
First time11 October 2012

International Day of the Girl Child is an international observance day declared by the United Nations; it is also called the Day of Girls and the International Day of the Girl. October 11, 2012, was the first Day of the Girl Child. The observation supports more opportunity for girls and increases awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide based upon their gender. This inequality includes areas such as access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care, and protection from discrimination, violence against women and forced child marriage.[1] The celebration of the day also "reflects the successful emergence of girls and young women as a distinct cohort in development policy, programming, campaigning and research."[2]

  1. ^ "As Malala Recovers, U.N. Marks International Day of the Girl Child". Los Angeles Times. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  2. ^ Hendricks, Sarah; Bachan, Keshet (2015). "Because I Am a Girl: The Emergence of Girls in Development". In Baksh, Rawwida; Harcourt, Wendy (eds.). The Oxford Handbook of Transnational Feminist Movements. Oxford University Press. p. 895. ISBN 9780199943494.